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The second day of Hospitality New Zealand’s 2025 Conference (HNZ) opened not with speeches but sneakers, as keen delegates gathered on Wellington’s waterfront at sunrise for a brisk Run Club hosted by Healthy Hospo.
Back at Tākina, the morning picked up and first on the schedule: the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) — a priority for HNZ members to cast votes and hear updates shaping the year ahead.
The tone mid-morning, the energy shifted to culture and capability. Former athlete and Jamie Kay chief executive Zion Armstrong presented a candid, human-centred view of leadership that was both powerful and full of life. Various workshops were on offer too ranging from Music Licencing for Hospitality- an interesting insight that unpacked what music licensing means for hospitality and other key businesses. There was also a cross-party political panel then led featuring Glen Bennett, Celia Wade-Brown, and Stuart Smith.
The next generation in “Future Voices,” which has emerging leaders didn’t hold back, offering reflections on change, diversity, and where the sector needs to move. From there, wellbeing took centre stage with MasterChef NZ’s Tim Read delivering sage advice for a more resilient workforce, before Minister Penny Simmonds and Ringa Hora chief executive Kari Scrimshaw tackled the future of vocational training and workforce forecasting.
Day two of HZN 2025 leaned heavily into people, place, and practical solutions and the afternoon offered delegates a choice of breakout rooms and real-world strategies. From neuro-inclusion and night-time economy frameworks to authentic storytelling and staff safety, and the questions remained- what’s working, and what’s still required.
